Carbon remover for spark plugs



March 17, 1925.

c. E. KLOPFER YCARBON REMOVER FOR' SPARK PLUGS Filed July 12, 1922 VMWMV Patented Mar. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES CHARLES E. KLOPFER, 0F WASHINGTON', DIS'IRIC'L` OF COLUMBIA.

CARBON REMOVER FOR SPARK PLUGS.

Application filed July 12, 1922.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. Knorrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of lVashington, and District of C0lumbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carbon Removers for Spark Plugs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. j

This invention relates to a. method and apparatus for cleaning spark plugs by burning the carbon therefrom, the object being to provide an apparatus by means of which the carbon can be quickly removed from the plug without injuring the same in any way, thereby overcomingthe. difficulties now existing with other devices, such as sand blast devices.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an appara-tus in which a. `movable spark plug holder is provided so that it can be adjusted in respect to the oxygen nozzle to allow the apparatus to accommodate various lengths of spark plugs vand to allow the plug.

to be moved to and 'frofrom the oxygen nozzle so that the carbon will be thoroughly removed from the spark plug.

Another and further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in which the fuel used for burning the carbon from the `plug can be ignited electrically or by a match similar to the method now employed in burning carbon from cylinders.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in which" the spark plug holder isso constructed that when the spark plug is in position and the carbon is being burnt therefrom, the sparks are prevented from flying as the end of the plug is disposed within a chamber which is provided with vents so disposed that 'the sparks, if any escaping, pass upwardly and are arrested before they scatter from the holder.`

Another and further object of the invention is to provide aholder in whichthe plug closes the chamber and is held in position within the apparatus b y the weight of theplug so that t-he same is allowed to yield under pressure acting as a safety valve.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

ln the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in sec- Serial No. 574,418.

tion, of an apparatus for carrying out my improved method of burning carbon from spark plugs; and

Figure 2 is a vertical section through a which is connected a flexible tube 7 adapted to extend from an oxygen tank not shown.

Mounted within the other end of the conduit is the nipple of a. valve 8 for controlling the supply of oxygen. The casing of the valve is provided with a threaded nipple 9 over which is arranged a tubular nozzle 10, the lower end being seated on an annular flange 11 formed on the valve casing, said tubular nozzle having a cap 12 disposed therein adj acentits upper end provided with jets 13 which are preferably annularly arrangedy so `as to direct the oxygen onto the the plug as will be later described.

Slidably mounted on the tubular nozzle is a spark plug holder 14 which is provided with a tubular portion 15` fitting snugly around the tubular nozzlelO, said tubular portion being enlarged as shown at 16 having a threaded bore in which is mounted a screw l17 which works in a vertical groove 18 formed in the tubular nozzle for limiting the upward movement of the` spark plug holder 15 on the nozzle. The. nozzle is surrounded by a coil spring 19 which normally holds the spark plug holder in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, said holder being provided with a handle 20 so as to allowthe holder to be moved up and down on the nozzle so as to adjust the plug in respect to the oxygen supplying nozzle and while l have shown the holder adjustable in respect to the nozzle, I am aware that the holder can be fixed and the nozzle adjusted in respect to the holder and therefore I do not wish to limit myself to the construction of apparatus as yherein shown as l am aware that various'changes can be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

sof

The holder is provided With a chamber 21 having a reduced neck portion k22 adapted to receive the plug, the upper end of the holder being provided With an annular flange 23 and radiating ribs 211. rIhe upper portion of the chamber is provided With passages 25 extending from the shoulder formed by the reduced portion so as to form vents for the chamber 21.

'Ihe tubular portion 15 of the holder is provided With an opening 26 Which is normally held by the spring above the upper end of the nozzle and through which a match is adapted to be inserted for igniting the fuel of the plug as Will be later described.

In Figure 1 I have shown a spark plug 27 disposed in position Within the holder to be cleaned having its electrode connected to a terminal 28 of the coil 3 by a Wire 3', said coil and battery being in circuit With a press button 29 so that by pressing the button, a spark Will be formed so as to ignite the fuel of `the plug as oxygen is supplied thereto and While I have shown an electrical device of this nature, I am aware that various other constructions of electrical ignition devices can be .used but I have found in practice that by mounting my improved apparatus on an ordinary spark testing device, the carbon and oxygen can be ignited and it Will be noted that in the construction shown I also shovv an opening through which a match can be inserted for igniting the fuel and by the particular construction of apparatus shown after the fuel has been ignited with a match, the holder is pressed down- Wardly so as to close the ignition openino'.

In carrying out my method I preferably dip the spark plug in aV fuel such as gasoline and then insert the ksame in the holder in' the position shown in Figure 1. The valve 8 is then opened so as to supply oxygen to the nozzle 10 and by inserting a match through the opening or by pressing the button 29, the carbon is ignited on the spark plug and by moving the holder to andV from the' plug, the carbon will be thoroughly burnt from the terminals and porcelain Without injuring the samein any Way.

By constructing the nozzle in the manner shown, I am able to move the plug downwardly in close proximity to the end of the nozzle so that the jets of oxygen will be applied to the interior of the plug so as to burn the carbon therefrom Without applying an excess of hea-t to the porcelain.

IVhile I have shown one form of apparatus for carrying out my method, I .am aware that various other forms of apparatuses can be used but I have found that by providing an apparatus with a chamber to which oxygen is supplied and in Which the portion of the plug to be ycleaned is placed, I am able to thoroughly burn the carbon from the plug.

lVhat I claim is 1. The method of cleaning spark plugs by burning the carbon therefrom consisting of coating the plug With a fuel, supporting the plug in a vertical position, directing a jet of oxygen onto the plug from beneath and igniting the fuelto burn the carbon therefrom.

2. The method of cleaning spark plugs by burning the carbon therefrom consisting in first coating the plug with a fuel, then placing the plug in a holder provided with a chamber, directing into said chamber a jet of loxygen and igniting the fuel to burn the carbon from a portion of the plug Within the chamber. f

3. In a device of the kind described, the combination With an oxygen nozzle, of a holder movably mounted in respect to sai-d nozzle having a chamber to receive a spari plug and electrical means for producing a spark Within said chamber.

L In a device of the kind described comprising an oxygen supplying nozzle and a holder, said holder and nozzle being movably mounted in respect to one another, said holder having a chamber provided With an open neck port-ion adapted to receive a spark plug, said chamber having vents and means for controlling the supply of oxygen to said nozzle.

5. An apparatus for burning carbon from spark plugs comprising a base having a bore having a nipple at one end to which is adapted to be connected a flexible tube lead-` ing fromv an oxygen tank, a valve having a nipple secured in the other end of said bore,

a nozzle secured to said valve, a holder slidably mounted on Asaid nozzle having a chamber adapted to receive a spark plug and means for limiting the movement of y said holder on said nozzle.

6. An apparatus for cleaning spark plugs comprising a base having an oxygen nozzledisposed vertically thereon, a holder slidably mounted on said nozzle provided with a chamber having an open neck portion surrounded by 'a series of vents, a spring surrounding said nozzle for supporting said holder, said chamber having an opening at its lower end, said opening being adapted to be closed by said nozzle when said holder is moved downwardly.

7. An apparatus for burning carbon from spark plugs comprising an oxygen supplying nozzle and a spark plug holder, one being movably mounted in respect to the other, said holder having a chamber to receive the portion of the spark plug to be cleaned and means for igniting the carbon of the spark pluO.

8. A device for burning carbon from spark plugs comprising a holder having a chamber provided With vents and a reduced neck portion into which a spark plug is lll) adapted to be inserted, means for directing a jet of oxygen into said chamber, and means for controlling the supply of oxygen.

9. In a device of the kind described, the combination With an oxygen nozzle, of a holderl slidably mounted on said nozzle provided with a chamber adapted to receive a spark plug, said chamber being provided with vents and a handle for moving said holder in respect to said nozzle.

l0. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a tubular nozzle having a cap adjacent its upper end provided With a series of jets, of a holder slidably mounted on said nozzle having an opening through which a match can be inserted, said holder being provided With a chamber having an annular flange at its upper end and provided with a series of vents and means for limiting the movement of said holder on said nozzle.

ll. A spark plug burner comprising a spark plug holder having a chamber provided with a reduced neck portion to receive a spark plug, said chamber being provided with ventshan oxygen nozzle extending into said holder', said nozzle and holder being mov-ably mounted in respect to one another.

l2. The method of cleaning spark plugs by burning the carbon therefrom consisting in irst dipping the plug in a fuel and then inserting the plug into a chamber, then directing a jet of oxygen into said chamber and finally igniting the fuel of said plug ior burning the carbon therefrom.

13. A device for burning carbon from spark plugs comprising a holder having a chamber provided With an open neck portion to receive a spark plug, said chamber being provided With a series of vents at its upper' end and an opening at its lower end through Which a match can be inserted, a tubular nozzle extending into said holder having a cap adjacent its upper end for directing the series of jets of oxygen onto the plug Within said chamber, said holder and nozzle being movably mounted in respect to one another and means for limiting the movement of said holder in respect to said nozzle. A 14. In a device of the kind described, the combination With a nozzle, oit' a holder arranged above said nozzle having a chamber to receive a spark plug and means for producing a spark Within said chamber.

15. A device of the kind described, comprising a chamberv provided With vents and an open top to receive a spark plug, means for directing a jet of oxygen into said chamber from beneath and means controlling the supply of oxygen.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ax my signature.

CHARLES n xLorFEs. 

